COMMENTARY

Simple censorship

The MSU community missed an opportunity to deal with the important issues of racism when university officials censored the play “SubUrbia.” The Department of Theatre production was scheduled to run for more than a week, but was cut to one performance Thursday after some university officials expressed concern about its content. The play, which centers around a rock star and his three friends who hang out at a neighborhood convenience store, includes two Pakistani characters who face discrimination. It’s understandable why some might feel uncomfortable about the play, but that doesn’t mean censorship is the right solution. Ethnic discrimination is a sensitive subject for our community, especially since the Sept.

COMMENTARY

Penalty crackdown needed by Williams

Say what you will about Bobby Williams as MSU’s new coach, but his team has been penalized for 237 yards in the past three games, or almost what T.J.

COMMENTARY

Patriot statements wont end problems

I am writing because I am concerned about some of the opinions expressed on the Opinion Page in regards to the attacks on New York and Washington.

COMMENTARY

Spare Jon, Lisa cell phone conversation about impending hook-up

I knew about five different parties that happened this weekend. One was a techno music party, another was a fraternity party with some kind of theme or other, there was a Ski Club party and two other general house parties on Gunson and Beale streets.I also knew that Jon was planning to hook up with Lisa on Friday, and that the frat party was going to be “totally lame.”I learned about all of this in my math class.

COMMENTARY

Eyes should open that U.S. in danger

There are people in this world who hate our way of life and our foreign policy. These are the people who have so deliberately attacked our nation.

COMMENTARY

For Brandon

For the past year, Brandon D’Annunzio’s friends and family have been trying to rebuild their lives the best they can. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the assault of a 24-year-old Michigan Technological University student outside a downtown East Lansing bar.

COMMENTARY

Full disclosure

Lawmakers could be putting students’ safety at risk as they prepare to reform how colleges and universities report campus crime. U.S.

COMMENTARY

SN attacks rights; CCW law positive

It’s a shame in this time of immense patriotism we have to defend our Constitution, and the rights our forefathers guaranteed us, against fellow Americans (“Out of ammo,” SN 9/27). The Second Amendment clearly states good old American Joes like you and I have the right to own firearms for our personal defense and protection.

COMMENTARY

Character should count in athletics

Although I’m becoming more concerned about justice in the nation’s efforts against terrorism, I’m glad to see some in the MSU community have not forgotten about justice on the personal level.

COMMENTARY

War on terrorism not good vs. evil

Over the past weeks I have been tormented by letters that reject any attempt to face the complex issue facing us. The notion we can end the violence by violence is fool hardy.

COMMENTARY

Meets quality

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. At least that appears to be the opinion of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. The activist group issued a statement last week accusing the Ingham County Health Department of censoring important information from its December 2000 water quality report. The group said hazards to Ingham County’s surface and groundwater were not identified, putting residents in danger. But the county’s 20-page pamphlet, a pared-down version of the 130-page report, is a thorough and easy-to-digest packet containing the highlights of the original publication’s content.

COMMENTARY

Need for parents wisdom highlighted when theyre no longer there

We all seem to take the things our parents tell us for granted. As I approach graduation in a few semesters, I’m just realizing how wise my parents were and how they’ve helped me grow as an individual. That is what they’re there for, after all.

COMMENTARY

Notre Dame game showed patriotism

As one of thousands who took a lot from this weekend’s game, I just want to say thanks to Michigan State for the patriotic spirit you displayed. In holding up signs of the American flag and chanting “U.S.A.” before the game and during halftime we confirmed America and all she stands for, hopefully offering some support for those who need it most at this time. The halftime show was something that won’t soon be forgotten.

COMMENTARY

Flags nice show, but in wrong place

I was concerned about the improper display of the U.S. flag on the right shoulder of football players’ uniforms Saturday.

COMMENTARY

Positive step

MSU officials have succeeded in increasing the minority student population, with 20 percent of this year’s freshman class projected to be minority students. But retention of minority students is still sluggish, threatening to undermine the work recruiters do to bring black, Chicano and Latino, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Native American and other minority students to campus.

COMMENTARY

Time to leaf | Autumn cold is here

It’s happened.The warning signs were all there. This is a campus of thousands of trees after all.And thousands of students.It was the latter sign that told us the time had arrived.

COMMENTARY

Even in tragedy, laughter must be found

“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.”When I was younger and angrier at everything, my favorite selection from the Bible was Psalm 137.

COMMENTARY

Out of ammo

People Who Care About Kids is on an empty clip. The group, which has led opposition to the months-old concealed weapons law, announced it is stopping a petition drive to place the issue on the 2002 ballot in an effort to overturn it. The law requires county gun boards give CCW licenses to any adult who completes a gun-safety course and doesn’t have a criminal record or history of mental illness. Previously, those who wanted to carry a concealed weapon had to show legitimate need to possess a firearm. The group says it could collect the more than 250,000 signatures needed, but doesn’t have the money to run the large-scale campaign necessary to compete with gun-rights activists. This is truly unfortunate to see.

COMMENTARY

Fix root problem to end threat of terror

The president has guaranteed a long war against terrorists and any nation that harbors them. Afghanistan is a clear choice for retaliation and the military is headed that way.

COMMENTARY

The plane truth: Stadium ban good

Your editorial (“Keep flying,” SN 9/21), obviously was written by a person whose aviation experience has been limited to eating pretzels and drinking Cokes in the back of airliners.